Carter Center praises Guyana elections but concerned with race campaigning

The Center noted that on Elections Day, rumors and allegations of provocative confrontations between ruling and opposition supporters swirled throughout the country but said most of these issues turned out to be largely unfounded or easily explained.

Carter Center praises Guyana elections but concerned with race campaigning

The Carter Center Elections Observer Mission here in Guyana on Tuesday said the 2015 elections were probably the most important since the watershed elections of 1992 and called on citizens and party leaders to act responsibly and exercise patience during the voting tabulation process by the Guyana Elections Commission.

The Mission in a statement which was read in parts by several persons noted that Guyana nor its citizens have not been able to develop their full potential as a result ethnic and racial mobilization by main political parties and called on political leaders to make efforts to unify the country and strengthen accountability.

Speaking specifically to Monday’s Polls, the Center said a generally calm and peaceful atmosphere was witnessed throughout elections day with no major irregularities being reported.

Head of Mission Audrey Glover said that all Guyanese should be proud of what transpired on Monday. “This is especially true because their efforts took place in an atmosphere of tension and anxiety that unfortunately was generated by key political leaders who played on fears during the electoral process,” the statement noted.

The Center noted that on Elections Day, rumors and allegations of provocative confrontations between ruling and opposition supporters swirled throughout the country but said most of these issues turned out to be largely unfounded or easily explained.

The Mission Head, who remained after Former US President Jimmy Carter Departed acknowledged the long lines while GECOM employees and party agents served with dignity and integrity.

She said that the Center is not concerned with the time GECOM is taking to release the results, because of the laws which are attached to the declarations and the systems that would have to be in place. On elections day, Carter Center observers visited 297 polling stations in all ten regions and reports a positive environment in almost all stations. “

Tensions along party lines were observed in a few areas which may have contributed to the delay in transferring electoral materials and processing results,” the Center added. Although the Center’s founder had to leave Guyana before elections day he was able to meet with key political leaders, including incumbent President Donald Ramotar and Presidential Candidate of the Opposition Coalition David Granger.

He said “Guyana and its people hold a special place in my heart and I would like to thank them for the well wishes they expressed for me… I had a bad cold and I’m feeling much better now.” The Center is expected have agents remain in Guyana until mid-June. (Kurt Campbell)

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